Banding machine



March 25, 1947. E. c. SLOAN Erm.

BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1942v 8 Sheets-Sheet l Jaya/weie I March 25, 1947. E. c; sLoAN ETAL BANDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1942 y vf@ n u. w my 4 March 25., 1947- E. c. sLoAN ETAL BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1942 March25, 1947. E. c. sLoAN ETAL BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1942 8 Sheets-Shee 4 Nif;

March 25, 1947.

E;C.SLOAN EAL BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26,1942

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 25, 1947. E. Q SLQAN ET ALl 2,418,054 Y BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1942 8 Sheets-'Sheet 6 Marh 25, 1947. E. c. sLoAN ETAL 2,418,054

BANDING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 yfo y I?? We?? foins March 25, 1947. E. c. sLoAN rs1-Al. I 2,418,054

BANDING MACHINE 0 FiledJu'ne 2e, 1942 8 sheets-sheet a wf @Lg/3 y Mm- UNITED STATES `PATENT orifice BANDING MACHINE Edward C. Sloan, Geneva, and Wilton F. Hoag, Batavia, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Iartridg-Pak Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Y Application `lune 26, 1942, Serial No. 448,672

26 Claims. l

This invention has for one object to provide means for securing a wrapping about a plurality of objects. In the particular form here shown, it has for one object to provide means for placing a band about a sausage or for placing a continuous band around a plurality of sausages, which become thereby connected by the band. Another object is to provide means for securing a continuous band about a plurality of generally similarly shaped objects.

A still further object is to provide means for bringing together about a plurality of sausages a pair of bands and for positioning each band partly about each sausage and for thereafter securing the bands together so that each band is joined to the other at points separating the sausages.

A still further object is to provide in connection with the joining means means for partially severing or slotting or notching that part of the bands which is joined between the sausages to facilitate separation or tearing.

Qther objects will appear from time to time throughout the speciication and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device.

Figure 2 is a section taken on an enlarged scale at line 2--2 of Figure 1, with parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional detail taken on an enlarged scale at line 3 3 of Figure 2, and showing the joining means in the raised position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the joining means in the lowered position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, horizontal section taken at line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail taken at line 6 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detailed elevation illustrating a portion of the driver which is shown in Figures 3 and 4, but from the side opposite to those gures.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing a portion of the mechanism of Figure 7 in a modified posi tion.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional detail taken on an enlarged scale at line Q- of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a transverse, sectional detail taken at line I ll-l of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a transverse, vertical, sectional detail taken at line Il--lll of Figure 9.

Figure l2 is a plan view oi a finished assembly of banded sausages. l

Figure 13 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken on an enlarged scale at line llii3 of Figure 8.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 3` showing the modified form of spring member.

Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 4 showing the modified form of Figure 14.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawings.

The device of this invention in the particular form here shown comprises in general a framework or supporting means, an article conveying' means, together with a drive for moving it, and in addition a pair oi means for supplying bands, and means for causing the bands to be fed progressively toward the article, and finally means ier moving the bands together to join them intermediate the articles, and to secure them together. In the particular form here shown the securing means is a heat sealing means, and the bands are each provided with adhesive on one side, so that they may be readily sealed to each other.

As shown, the supporting means includes a plurality of legs or generally upright member l, which are joined by longitudinal members 2, 2 and transverse members 3, 3. A shelf may be positioned on these members or additional transverse members ll, 4 may be used to carry the necessary driving means. As shown, the members 4, il support a motor 5 from which a shaft 6 projects. The shaft is connected by a coupling l' to the shaft 8 of a geared reducer 9 which may be of any desired form, from which a shaft projects upon which is mounted a pulley iii. Obviously, other driving means might be arranged upon a shelf or upon the supports Ll.

Members are provided at the upper end of the upright members l to be carried by those me.. bers and to support and in part enclose the mechanism of the banding machine. As shown, these members include a pair of generally dat pieces Il, Il, which are supported at or near the upper ends of the members I. An article discharge apron may be secured at the discharge end of the assembly, and as shown particularly in Figures `1, 2, 3, and 4, includes side portions l2 and a top or material receiving portion I3 which may be integral with the side portions I2. This member l2, I3 is secured to the frame members il, and is preferably inclined downwardly, and serves as a receiving and discharge surface for the banded sausages or other articles.

A supporting frame or extension I4 .may be secured to or supported from one of the members I I, and it serves as a support for the sealing means and also as a support for an arm I5, which carries a shaft Iii, upon which a roll I1 of tape or paper may be positioned. As shown, the strip I3 of tape or paper is fed from the roll I'I to the point oi use, and comprises the uppermost strip of material so fed and used.

An additional supporting member I9 may be mounted upon the device, and as shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, it is secured at its lower end upon an extension 2G, which may be supported from or formed integrally with one of the members I I. It is to be understood that the frame members lI may be of almost any desired shape. Thy may comprise simple flat members which are positioned parallel to each other, or they may have parallel portions separated from each other by a given distance, and they may include portions suppo-rted from them and separated from each other by a greater distance. rhe portion 2t is thus shown as being generally a continuation of one oi the members II, while the portion 2l, although supported preferably from the opposite member Il, is spaced outwardly from it by a web or portion 22. The exact arrangement and positioning of these parts depends obviously upon the convenience of manufacture and assembly, as well as upon the quantity of material required and the size of the members which must be assembled together to provide movements suitable to carry out the desired operations upon articles of the size with which the machine is to be used.

The means for conveying the articles, in this case sausages or generally similar articles, will now be described. A pair of chains 23, 23 is mounted, each upon suitable sprockets. shown, there are at the upper left end of Figure l two sprockets 24, 25, the sprocket Ztl being mounted on a short shaft which is supported in a bearing 26 carried by one of the frame members II, and the sprocket 25 being mounted on a longer shaft 2'! which is carried in a suitable bearing formed in or carried by the opposite frame member iI, and has secured on it a cam 2s which appears in elevation in Figures 7 and 8, and in top plan view in Figure 2. At the opposite end, the chains 23 are supported upon idler sprockets 29, which are mounted upon a shaft 3G, which is supported in bearings Ztl, 3l, which are themselves supported in the members II and might be supported on the frame in any desired manner.

At the end opposite the sprockets 2S, and preferably below the sprockets 24 and 25, is a pair of driving sprockets 32, which are mounted on a shaft 33, which is supported in bearings 34, carried by the side members Il. At one end, as shown in Figures l and 2 in particular, the shaft 33 carries a gear 35 which meshes with a gear Sli, which acts as an intermediate gear and is supported on a stub shaft 3l. The gear 3@ meshes with a pinion 38 on a shaft Sil, which is carried in bearings on the members 2@ and 2l. It will be noticed that the pinion 3B is on the outside of the member 2i. On the opposite side of the member 2li-that is to say, on the outside of the member 2li-as shown particularly in Figure '7, and fixed on the shaft 39, is a gear 4u. Fixed also on the shaft 3S, and positioned outwardly with respect to the gear 4l), is a pulley lil, which is engaged by a driving belt 42, and this belt is driven from the pulley I of the gear reducer 9, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As will be seen particularly in Figures 7 and 8,

4 the gear Il@ meshes with a gear 43 which is mounted on a shaft es, supported in suitable bearings on the extension Zt. The shaft 44 carries a cam 135, which is provided with an irregularly shaped internal cam face itil. Thus the rotation of the gear 9 rotates the gear 43, and the cam face llt. The gear and the cam maybe fastened to each other and mounted for rotation on the shaft 54, or they might be otherwise constructed, so long as rotation of the gear i3 accomplishes rotation of the cam.

Positioned loosely about the shaft 134 is a yoke s?, with an opening @38, which, as shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, is longer than it is wide, to permit an up and down movement of the yoke. The' shaft acts as a bearing for the yoke. Plvoted in the yoke fil is a cam engaging roller Alg, which engages the cam face lil The yoke itself is joined, as at to the lower end of a plunger 5l, and arranged to slide up and down in a bearing E52, which is mounted upon one face of the member 20. plunger are urged upwardly by a spring 53, which is secured upon a pin 5ft, or any other suitable engaging member. As here shown, the pin 54 is mounted upon the member i5. At its lower end, the spring 53 engages the eye 55 of a member 56, which is attached to or secured in the yoke lll.

Adjacent its upper end, the plunger 5I is xecl to a member 5l, which carries a bearing 58, in which a pin 59 is received. This pin is mounted in a disc 69, which is fixed on an arm 6l. As shown in Figures '7 and 8 and 13, the arm has a downwardly depending reduced portion 62, and a hook-like member G3, which is adapted, in the lowermost position,fto engage a pin $4, which has an enlarged head 65, which may be flattened on its upper surface, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. As shown in Figure 13, the member 68 is cutaway or reduced on one side to permit the member 6i) to clear the head 65 of the pin 64 in its lowermost position.

The upper end of the member El is shown in Figures 3, 4, 7, and 8, and 13. As shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8, the member rISI carries secured to it an irregularly shaped member which includes a number of parts. These include an arm 6B, an angularly disposed portion 51, and an arm 58, which as shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8 lies generally parallel to the arm G5 and is inclined upwardly from it. The arm 68 is welded or otherwise secured to the member 6I, and carries adjacent its outer end a cam engaging pin 6s, which is engaged in a cam slot 'l formed in the member I4.

Movably positioned within the cam groove or cam portion 'lil is a guiding dog 1I, carried on an arm '62, pivoteol at i3 on the member Ill. The lever l2 is normally held against the stop lll by a spring 75.

At the lower end of the arm 65 is pivotally mounted an adjustable arm 16, which has a cam engaging portion Tl'. At or near its free end, the member l is adjustably fixed in position by a pair of screws 78, 18, each of which is screw threaded in a lug lo, carried by the member 66.

As shown in Figure 5, the arm I is mounted between one of the members II and the member I 4, which is spaced away from it, and in its movement it is guided by the arm assembly formed of the arms 66 and 68 and by the pin 69.

Secured adjacent the upper end of the arm 6I is a laterally extending support Sil. This arm or support `carries a sub-assembly, which includes The yoke and a heat sealing means ancla perforating means, which will now be described. This mechanism is shown in vertical section in Figure 3, in elevation in Figures 4 and 13, and in sectional detail in Figure 9. The frame for the sub-assembly just mentioned includes a member 8| and a member 82. These may be integral, and may be disposed at right angles to each other. Secured in the member 3l are pins 83, which are received in suitable perforations in the member 8). The member lill is provided with a screw threaded perforation to receive a sleeve Sli, which is provided with a knob S5 by means ci which it may be turned. The knob may be roughened or knurled, or provided with depressions 86 to receive a turning tool. This sleeve bears at one end against the member SI, and receives a bolt 8l, the head of which is received in a suitable depression in the member 8 I, The bolt is drawn tight against the sleeve Gil by a nut 83. A lock nut B9 may be provided to engage the exterior of the sleeve 84.

The member S2 is grooved on its sides or otherwise shaped to receive lugs 9B. These lugs are preferably an extension of side members S I, which are joined by a cross member 92 and are also joined by a member 93. Together, the members Sil, SI, 92, and 93 form a frame, which carries the sealing and perforating means. This frame is adjustably supported from the member 82 by a threaded sleeve Sil having a head 95, which has depressions Sii to receive a turning tool. The sleeve dit bears against the cross member 92, and is drawn down tight on it by a bolt 91, which is engaged by a nut 98.

The member 93 may be enlarged as at 8S to receive a heating element IIiil. Wires Ii!! furnish current to the heating element Which is electrical,` and is shown in detail in Figure 9. A member 92 extends downwardly from the enlargement 99, and this member is preferably provided with teeth ID3.

Slideably positioned about the member |92 is a sheath or enclosing portion IIil. It is secured to an arm H35, which has fixed in it a pair of pins I U5. These pins pass through a guiding member It?, which is secured to the member 93. About each of the pins is positioned a spring I d8, which urges the member Il!!! downwardly, when free to do so. A stop Iii is positioned in the upper end of the pins.

Associated with the sealing and perforating mechanism just above described is an article retaining means, which is shown in side elevation in Figures 3 and 4, and in plan view in Figure 5. It is also shown to some degree in Figures 6 and 7, and a portion of it is shown in Figure 9. This mechanism is supported on the member I9. It includes a relatively longitudinal frame member i Ill, which has at one end a downwardly depending member III, and at the opposite end it has a downwardly depending member H2, which is provided with a perforation or opening I I3.

A sliding sub-frame assembly is carried on the member lid, and includes a lower portion I I4, from which lugs Iil and H5 extend upwardly. It will be seen from Figure 5 in particular that the lugs IE5 and il@ are positioned on opposite sides of the mem-ber iiil. The member Il@ includes an apertured block. lll, against which one end of a threaded sleeve H3 bears. This sleeve is mounted in an interiorly threaded member'l I9, which is secured to thepart .I Iii, This member IIS may be mounted for lateral movement along the part I ill, but so engages the member II that it cannot be separated upwardly from it. A lock nut |26 may bear against the member IIB and is in :threaded engagement with the exterior of the sleeve Ii8. A bolt 12| extends through a perforation in the member iid, through the member II'L'and the sleeve H8, and receives and is adjustably held in place by a nut I22. By means of the construction just descri-bed, the sub-frame lili, together with its lugs H5 and H6, may be adjustably positioned up or down with respect to the member lli?, and may be locked in suitable adjusted position.

The member iiI receives and is secured to the end of a rod I23. This rod is threaded as at i213, and passes through a suitable perforation in the member III. It is held in adjusted position by the nuts i25 and E26. By this means, :the sub-frame Eid with its associated parts, may be adjusted to the right or the left from the position shown in Figure 3.

A stud IZ'I is positioned on the member lli and as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 projects laterally from that member. A retaining member E28 is movably mounted on the stud. It is slotted as at I29, and this slot engages the stud. A spring ISQ has one end secured, as at it, to one end of the retaining member 23. At its other end, the spring is secured as at E32 upon an arm I which projects from the member im. The retaining member 28 is provided with a clownwardly Vcurved portion Iil, which passes through the opening i I3 in the member i l2. At its righthand end, as shown particularly in Figures 3, 4, and 5, and in detail in Figure 9, the portion Iiid is provided with a further downwardly curved hook portion I35, Fixed on the portion i3d is the base i3@ of an upwardly and downwardly extending hook member i5?. Positioned on the member Il! and in line with the member itil, to which one end of the spring i353 is attached, is an adjustable stop i3d. This stop limits the travel or" the member 23 and the parts which it carries, and is adjustable. At one limit of the travel of the member H28, the member lei strikes the stop ISS.

Secured also to the sub-frame member iid is an arm idg, to whigh is secured a spring A spring II-iI is also secured to the member i3d As shown in Figure 5, the spring illl is preferably provided with a pair of outwardly extending arms or fingers M2. rEhe shape of 4the spring lidi, M2 may be widely varied. As showin herewith, the fingers I di! are separated in order to provide separate-d points of Contact with the articles which are being banded. Ir" desired, these fingers may ybe provided with anti-friction members, such as rollers or the like, to hold the article in place and to eliminate or reduce friction.

It is to be understood that the exact shape of these parts depends upon the size and shape of the article which is to be handled, and similarly the chains 23 as shown are arranged to carry members M3. These are curved members and therefore provide receiving portions for the artizles IM. As shown, the articles may be considered as sausages to which the bands are to :be applied, and since they are generally round, it is suitable to form the members Ii to provide generally rounded depressions or pockets. if articles of other shapes were to be handied, the members |43 mightl be a diierent form particularly adapted to receive and handle the articles to be treated. The members MS, particularly as shown in Figure 4, provide what is in effect a pushing portion, to force the sausage |114 forward to the point of banding, as the chain links move downwardly about the sprockets 2i, 215.

The .banding means includes an upper supply roll |1 supported on a shaft IE, carried from the member i5. Extending outwardly from the member i5 is a support ME, as shown particularly in Figure l. Secured to member is a curved guide his which ineludes an upper loop M1 and a lower loop |55. A friction roller |69 may be mounted on an arm itil, which is pivoted at |ii and is yieldingly held against the tape by a spring |52. The tape iii is fed from the lower loop |48 to the point of use, as shown in Figure d.

A second or lower tape is carried upon a drum |53, which is supported on a shaft |515, carried by an arm 55. The lower tape |55 runs over a guide |51, which is provided with a curved lower loop |58, an intermediate loop |59, and an upper loop lli. rihe guide 51 is supported as at |511 and |62. rlhe details of its support are not important, as it might be carried by any means. A friction roller |63 is carried on an arm |654, pivoted as at |65. The arm |64 is adjustable lby means of a screw |65 to vary the friction and the tension exerted upon the tape. The lower tape lt moves from the upper loop |60 to the point of use, as shown particularly and in detail in Figures 3 and 4.

A wheel or roller i651 is mounted on a shaft ld, and is preferably provided with peripheral anges |559. Between these flanges is provided a resilient member |1il, which may be of rubber or other relatively yielding material. As shown in'Figures 3 and e, the shaft |68 is associated with a boss i'il, which is cut away, as at |12, to provide a clearance for the members |Ll3 of one of the chains 23. The roller |51 idles and is rotated by the pressure of the sealing and perforating member, as it moves downwardly toward and against it.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of the frame and supporting members. A guide, for example, might be added to one or both of the members il to assist in guiding and centering the sausages or other articles which are carried by the machine. These members have been omitted to simplify the showing generally.

The tapemay be of many different sorts. It may be heat sealing or pressure sealing. It may be provided with printing on one or both sides. It may be of paper or fabric or any desirable materiel, such as Cellophane or other synthetic materials. It may be wide or narrow, and if desired, more than one set of tapes might be applied, so that when the articles leave the machine, they are secured by two separate sets of tapes, and each article would thus be engaged by two loops of paper. One suitable form of banding material comprises strips of paper or paper tapes, which are provided with glue on their contacting faces, and this glue is such that when heat and pressure are applied, it seals the two tapes together where they are in contact with each other. v

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a practical and operative embodiment of, our invention and the Imethod for carrying it out, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts, and in the details and steps of such method without departing from the spirit of our invention. We therefore wish our description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting us to our precise showing.

As shown in the modified form of Figures I4 and I5 there is substituted instead of the relatively stiff spring member |34 and its point |35 a lighter or more flexible spring member |14, which as shown has a point or end |13, and this latter is shaped in two curves, divided at the point |15. This form of spring extends farther to the right in the machine than does the spring |34, |35, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It extends well under the heating assembly and is contacted by the assembly as the latter descends and is, therefore, moved downward with the heating assembly and its end |13 is caught or held between the sausage and the heating assembly, so that the effect of the heating assembly in moving the sausage to the left is wholly or largely transmitted through the spring end |13 and the sausage, or whatever article is being banded in the machine, is safeguarded against tearing, pinching or other injury which might occur if it were contacted directly by any part of the heating assembly.

While the spring |14, |13 might extend clear to the left as does the member |23, |34 of Figure 3, it is preferable to have the spring supported on a somewhat rigid member, and the rigidr member is the supporting part and the spring is the added part, which differs from the construction of Figure 3 in which the spring is integral with the supporting part.

Thus instead of the member |34 there is provided a member |15, which is attached to, or made integral with the member |23. The member |314 and its associated parts are the same as those shown in Figures 3 and e. The member llt' has a downwardly depending point or end |11, which serves the purpose served by the downwardly depending hook |31 of Figures 3 and 4. It engages a part of the heating assembly when the latter rises and is raised and, to some degree, is carried by the latter in its movement upward.

Another change which is within the contemplation of our invention is the provision of means for severing the individual sausages as they are sealed or after they are sealed. One simple method of accomplishing this is to substitute a knife for the teeth |63 of the member |ll2. When the teeth |03 are provided they form a line of perforations running across the tape through the sealed portion. rI'hus the sealed portion remainson both sides of the line of perforation so that when sausages are separated the seal is not completely broken and the band remains about the sausage. When it is desired to sever the sausages so that instead of being discharged from the machine in a strip of several sausages banded together, they will be discharged as individual and individually banded sausages;4 the teeth |83 are made continuous so that they constitute a knife and they sever the band. yThis severing occurs midway of the seal so that a band remains sealed about each individual sausage, but the tape between each sausage is severed and the sausages thus emerge from the machine as individual and individually banded sausages.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

In the particular form here shown, the machine as above mentioned is arranged for banding sausages. When the operation is to be commenced, rolls of tape are put into the carriers,

the motor is connected with a source of current, so that it is energized, and the mechanism is driven. Obviously, it might be driven by any source of power, and is not limited to the use of an electric motor.

When the machine is driven, sausages will be put onto the chains and supported by the members |43. They will be moved from the right to left, as seen. in Figures 1 and 2. The tapes will be initially fed past the sealing -point over the roller lli? and onto the platform i3. As the machine operates, therefore, sausages are successively fed forward to the point of sealing. The sealing mechanism is shown in three positions, in Figures 1, 3, and 4. In Figure 1, the hook i35 is at the maxmum elevated position, and the sausages may pass under it. In Figure 3 it has been lowered partly, so that it engages a sausage which is about to be closed into a loop. In this position it prevents rearward or right-hand movement oi the sausage. In Figure 4, the sealing assembly has been lowered. the sausage has been forced somewhat to the left, the upper tape has been tightened about the sausage, and the sealing is taking place. In the position shown Figure e, the seal is either just taking place or has been nished, and the heated member |02 has emerged from the sheath iill, and has heated a transverse strip of tape, and if the teeth H13 are provided, it has perforated both bands. The perforations in the particular form shown will extend transversely with the seal strip, and will lie substantially in the middle of that strip, so that when the sausages are torn apart, they remain sealed within their loops, and a portion of' the seal is therefore in place even though one sausage has been separated or torn from the other by the tearing of the strip.

The above is a general outline of the sealing operation. Mechanical movements which take place to accomplish it will now be described.

In this operation, the belt 42 drives the shaft 39, and the gear di) on it. This gear drives the gear i3 on the shaft 44 and rotates the cam 45. The cam engages the roller G9, which is supported in the yoke lll. Thus, as the cam 55 with the cam face 455 is rotated, the plunger 5| is moved up and down, and in its up and down movement, it moves the member 6|, and of course with it carries the parts 55, El, and 68, from which the entire sealing assembly is supported, and thus as the rotor "t5 rotates, through the plunger 5|, it raises and lowers the sealing assembly. The sealing assembly, however, does not merely rise and fall; it swings as well, its movement being guided by the cam slot Til, and the pin d3 which engages it. It is also guided in its movement about the cam slot iii by the dog 1|, which is xed on the pivoted lever 12. The shape of the cam slot or surface it is such that a portion oi it is concentric with its center of rotation. This occurs as shown particularly in Figure 8, at a time when the plunger 5| is at its lowest point. When that occurs, the hook 63 rests upon the pin Gli, and the Weight of the sealing assembly is largely or entirely carried by that pin. Theparts are shown in Figure 7 just before reaching this lowermost position and just before the sealing means has been lowered to the point whereit engages the wheel it? or the yielding members positioned on it. When it is in this position, one of the prongs of the cam 2d which rotates clockwise, as y tion 38 moves upwardly and to the right along" the bottom of the cam groove l@ from the position of Figure 7 to the position of Figure 8. This forces the heated member |82 further down to the nal position of Figure 9, in which it has emerged sufficiently from the sheath |4 to accomplish the sealingr operation and to force the teeth or projections |63 through the paper or other tape material. This operation also rotates the wheel |67 through the contact of the sealing member |02 against it. It will be noticed in Figure 4 that the pivot 61| about which the sealing frame rotates is slightly below the center of rotation of the shaft |68, upon which the wheel |61 rotates, and hence as the sealing assembly is rotated from the position of Figure 3 downwardly and to the left to the position of Figure 4, it exerts an effective rotating force upon the wheel it?.

As rotation of the cam carrier 45 continues from the position of Figure 8, the cam roller 43 comes into the wider part of the groove 4B. and the plunger is raised by the spring 53.. When this occurs, the pin 89 moves upwardly about the groove lil and is guided toward the upper portion of that groove by the dog 7| at the same time the member 5I and the sealing assembly which it carries swings to the left from the position of Figure 8 toward the position of Figure 7. The backward swinging movement is accomplished by the distribution of weight of the assembly and also, of course, by the shape of the cam groove lli. If desired. a spring might be inserted to assist this return swinging movement.

As the movement of the heating assembly just above described occurs. the hooks and |31 carried by the member |34 also move. In its down-` ward movement, the heating assembly does not move straight down from the position of Figure 3. It has a tilting movement to the right guided by the cam groove as above described, and therefore the sheath |04 does not depress the hook |35 from the position which the latteroccupies in Figure 3. However, as the heating assembly moves downwardly, the sheath |04 may have contact with the outer end of the hook |35 without depressing it, and the inclined cam face of the member |05 does contact the outer face of the hook |31 and forces that hook and the parts |34 and |28 to the left from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 4. This movement is permitted by the slot |29. During this time the heating assembly, and particularly the sheath |94, has contacted the upper tape, and the heating member |02 has carried it against the lower tape to the position of Figure 4, has accomplished sealing and perforation, and has rotated the wheel |61. At the same time, the sheath has exerted pressure toward the left upon the sausage neXt to it, and has thus fed or tended to feed the line of sausages through the machine to the left. The sausages are held in place upon the platform I3 during this operation by the spring el), and at the same time, the member Mii) exerts a friction upon the sausages under it so that they are not forced too far to the left, which would result in an unsatisfactory seal of the next sausage. To make a proper seal, it is desirable that the sausages be held close to each other, and the spring assists in accomplishing this.

4s the heating assembly moves upwardly and to the right from the position of Figure 4 toward its' original position of Figure 3, for example, the hook |37 vis engaged on the upper surface of the member |35 and is raised by it. This of course raises the hook |35 and the member |34. and the spring |33 holds the hook |31 for awhile upon the member |35, and thus as the hooks are raised by the heating assembly, they are forced to the right 'by the spring |3IJ until the member |3| strikes the stop |38, and then further movementto the right of the hooks is prevented, and Jthe hook |31 drops oi and the parts are free to return to the position of Figure 3. As this opera tion has been occurring, another sausage has been moved into the position occupied by the last sausage to the right, shown in Figure 3, and thus when the hook |35 again descends, it engages that sausage and holds it in place for the next sealing operation. It also contacts the upper band l, and to some degree depresses it.

It is obvious that the sequence of operations above described requires accurate timing. This is accomplished by proportioning the parts to bring the successive sausages into the position for banding at the time that the sealing assembly has been moved to the sealing position.

We have pointed out above the fact that the belt 42 drives the shaft 39, upon which the gear 4@ lis positioned. The pinion 38 is also positioned on the shaft 3Q. and that pinion meshes with the gear 35, which drives the gear 35. The gear 35 is fixed on the shaft 33, upon which are mounted the two sprockets 32, which drive the chains 23. The ratio of the gears in this drive is such that each time the chain is moved forward one step, or the distance necessary to feed forward another sausage, the cam carrier 45 with the cam groove 45 makes one complete revolution. As the chains are driven, the sprocket 25 is rotated by Jthe chain 23, which engages it. This is shown in the upper position of Figure 5. The sprocket 25 is mounted on the shaft 2T, which carries the cam member 28, and the drive of the cam 28 is so proportioned in relation to the drive of the cam carrier 45 with its cam groove 45 that the cam 28 makes one-third of a revolution for each full rev^l11tion of the carrier 45.

While the machine shown herewith is intended primarily for banding sausages, it might be used for banding other sorts of material. and it can be readily adjusted to accommodate different sizes vof articles. The depressions formed between the successive members |43 will obviously support articles of many different Sizes. To accommodate sausages or articles of different sizes, the spring assembly illil, i4! may be changed by substituting a different assembly or which may be adjusted by adjusting the member H4 up or down as described in connection. with the de scription of Figures 3 and 4. While adjustment may be provided for the positioning of the sealing assembly to accommodate larger or smaller articles. ordinarily this is not necessary. because the sealing assembly in its upper position provides a wide clearance between it and the wheel Mil, and it always moves downward to contact the wheel to accomplish sealing. Therefore, its degree of movement is sufficient to accomplish satisfactory sealing for articles which vary widely in size. The shape and travel of the members |43 is such that they will always properly position an article for sealing. As shown in Figure 3, the left-hand member |43 has carried a sausage to the proper position for sealing. Whatever the 12 size of the sausage or article, the position of its right-hand side or edge is always determined at substantially the same place by the member |43, which carries it and which leaves it as shown.

An important advantage of this machine lies in the fact that the articles which are to be banded are automatically and uniformly spaced. Ars stated above, the particular machine shown herewith is inten-ded for use in banding sausages, and sausages are not entirely uniform, either1 as to diameter or shape, and yet it is important that they be banded together in a substantially uniform manner and at substantially uniform dis tances. i

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sealing mechanism is respectively up and down. As the sealing assembly moves from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4 it contacts the outer end oi the member |35 and depresses suiiciently to move the sausage which is about to be banded toward the last preceding sausage, so that the distance between two sausages becomes substantially the same as the distance between'other preceding sausages.

In the modified form of Figure 14, the spring member is elongated so that instead of the relatively short spring member !35 there is provided the longer and preferably more flexible member VS3, and this member, as shown, is depressed by the sealing assembly. When the sealing assembly moved to the full sealing position, a portion of the spring member |13 lies between the sheath of the sealing member and the tape.

Whichever form of the spring member is used the pinching of the sausage which is about to be sealed is eifectedand controlled largely by the sealing assembly which as it descends moves the sausage as far as possible to the left. In effect, the inclined surface of the member |94 has a camming action against the sausage and forces it to the left, and this is true whether or not the spring member |33 or |73 is used. One effect of the member l is that it overlies the sausage and should an extremely inaccurate or curved sausage be present, the spring |73 will be contacted rst by the sealing assembly as it des scends and will prevent a pinching or breaking of the sausage the spring H3 thus shields and protects the sausage.

While we have spoken'above of the uniformity with which the sausages are placed, it is to be understood that absolute mechanical uniformity is impossible with articles which are themselves non-uniform. In general, the sausages are banded together so that they are absolutely or practically in contact with each other in the complete article. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 in particular in the completed band of sausages, the various sausages are substantially or actually in contact with the adjacent sausages. The sealed portion between each, article is of such size that except in the case of very small sausages it would not hold the sausages apart or serve to separate them. Ordinarily, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, adjacent sausages are in contact with each other. In general therefore, in spacing the sausages, a minimum space is provided between adjacent sausages and this minimum space is within limits substantially uniform. The sealing assembly as it moves toward the sealing position serves therefore to move the sausages to be sealed toward the last previously sealed sausages and to accomplish a uniform positioning of the sausages, so that as far as possible, waste of space is eliminated and the sausages are brought into contact or substantially into contact with each other when they are thus sealed into position by the tape.

We claim:

1. In combination with an article banding machine, article carrying means, a plurality of band supplying means adapted to supply a plurality of bands to said articles on opposite sides thereof, a movably mounted sealing assembly including a heating element and means for moving said sealing assembly toward said bands to contact and to seal two of said bands together, said sealing means being movable against the article to move the latter into properly placed relation with respect to the last previously sealed article, said sealing means being arranged to move at an angle to the horizontal and to the vertical and being provided with a member adapted to move said article which is about to be banded.

2. In combination with an article banding machine, article carrying means, a plurality of band supplying means adapted to supply a plurality of bands to said articles on opposite sides thereof, a movably mounted sealing assembly including a heating element and means for moving said sealing assembly toward said bands to contact and to seal two of said bands together, said sealing means being movable against the article to move the latter into properly placed relation with respect to the last previously sealed article, said sealing means being arranged to move at an angle to the horizontal and to the vertical and being provided with a member adapted to move said article which is about to be banded, the said member, which moves the article, comprising a sheath movably positioned about said heating element.

3. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for holding the articles to be secured out of the line of movement of said sealing head.

4. In. combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for holding the articles to be secured out or" the line of movement oi said sealing head including a movably mounted article retaining member having an end portion located adjacent the path of movement of the sealing head and adapted to .engage the articles after they have passed beyond the line of movement oi' said sealing head.

5. ln combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, a movable abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a smooth surface adaptedto engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for holding the articles to be secured out of the line of movement of said sealing head, including a movably mounted article retaining member iaving an end portion located against the path of movement oi the sealing head and adapted to engage the articles after they have passed beyond the line of movement of said seallng head.

6. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair oi bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, a movable abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a smooth surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for holding the articles to be secured out of the line of movement of said sealing head, including a movably mounted article retaining member having an end portion located adjacent the path of movement of the sealing head and adapted to engage the articles after they have passed beyond the line of movement of said sealing head, said abutment being movable in response to the movement of the band thereacross.

'7. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, means for holding the articles to 'Je secured out of the line of movement of said sealing head, and a lixed article support located beyond said abutment and having a supporting surface over which the attached articles are movable.

8. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, and means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, means, for holding the articles to be secured out of the line of movement of said sealing head, a fixed article support located beyond said abutment and having a supporting surface over which the attached 15 articles are movable, and yielding means for holding said articles movably in contact with said fixed article support after they have passed beyond said abutment and beyond the path of movement of the sealing head.

9. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for imparting feeding movement to the secured articles and thus t the bands, in response to the .movement of the sealing head.

10. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for moving a pair of bands along separate but adjacent paths, means for moving the articles to be secured into and along the space between said bands, an abutment located beneath the paths of movement of said bands and articles and having a surface adapted to engage the lowest of said bands, a sealing head including a sealing element and means for heating it, said sealing head being movably mounted, means for moving said head against said abutment and against the two bands as they pass over the abutment, and means for imparting feeding movement to the secured articles and thus to the bands, in response to the movement of the sealing head toward the abutment.

11. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for conveying the articles along a predetermined path, an abutnient over which said articles pass in the course of said movement, means for feeding a pair of bands across said abutment and about said articles, means for sealing said bands together about said articles including a sealing head and means for moving it toward and away from said abutment. means for holding said articles out of the line of movement of said head; and means for imparting movement step by step to the sequence of attached articles and for thereby moving said through the space between said abutment and said sealing head.

12. In combination, in means for securing articles between bands, means for conveying the articles along a predetermined path, an abutment over which said articles pass in the course of said movement, means for feeding a pair of bands across said abutment and about said articles, means for sealing said bands together about said articles including a sealing head and means for moving it toward and away from said abutment, means for holding said articles out of the line of movement of said head, means for imparting movement step by step to the sequence of attached articles and for thereby moving said bands through the space between said abutment chines for securing articles between heat sealaible bands, an abutment, means for feeding the bands over said abutment with the articles to be secured between the bands, a movably mounted sealing assembly located adjacent said abutment including a heated element and a sheath therefor, said sheath normally projecting beyond said heated element but being retractable relative thereto, said heated element having band periorating members projecting therefrom within the sheath, and means for moving said sealing assembly toward said abutment and bands to Contact one of said bands and force it into conta3t with the other and to seal the two together and perforatethein, said sheath engaging an article to move the same forwardiy upon movement oi said sealing assembly.

14. The method of securing articles together in a unitary package including supporting strips connected together about and between the articles, which includes feeding the articles to be secured successively step by step and in spaced relationship along a predetermined path toward a securing zone, feeding a plurality of strips toward the sezuring zone along converging but initially separated paths with said paths converging, about the path of movement of the articles, toward the securing zone, securing said strips together in the securing Zone in advance of each article to be secured, moving each article to be secured into Contact with the previously secured article to cause both articles and the strips to advance until the article to be secured has passed beyond the securing zone, thereafter securing said strips in the securing Zone behind said article to be secured and continuing said steps until the desired number of articles has been secured between said strips.

15. In combination, in a machine for securing articles together in packages including supportn ing strips extending about and connected together between the articles, an endless conveyor, means Yfor astuating said conveyor, said conveyor includinga plurality of links and supporting fin?1 gers mounted on said links and spaced transversely apart on said links, said supporting iingers including portions forming seats adapted to receive the ends of elongated articles, means for guiding said securing strips along paths converging about the path of movement of the articles on the conveyor, means for supplying to said strip guiding means strips having a width less than the space between the fingers of said links, means for securing said strips together between each pair of adjacent articles and means for supporting the secured articles and the strips as the articles are successively secured together.

16. In combination, in a machine for securing articles together in packages including supporting strips extending about and connected together between the articles, an endless conveyor, means for actuating said conveyor, said conveyor including a plurality of links and supporting fingers mounted on said links and spaced transversely apart on said links, said supporting ngers including portions forming seats adapted to receive the ends of eiongated articles, means for guiding securing strips along paths converging about the path oi movement of the articles on the conveyor, means for supplying to said strip guiding means strips having a widthvless' than the space between the ngers of said links, means for supporting said strips including a drum located adjacent one end of the conveyor, one strip, as it passes across the face of said 17 drum, intersecting the path of movement of the articles on said conveyor, and means for securing said strips together between each pair of adjacent articles including a movable sealing head and means `forfmoving said head toward and away from said drum.

17. In combination, in a machine for securing articles together in packages including supporting strips extending about and connected together between the articles, an endless conveyor, means for actuating said conveyor, said conveyor` including a plurality of links and supporting ngers mounted on said links and spaced transversely apart on said links, said supporting ngers including portions forming` seats adapted to receive the ends of elongated articles, means for guiding securing strips along paths converging about the path of movement of the articles on the conveyor, means for, supplying' to said strip guiding means strips having a width less than the space between the fingers of said links, means for securing said strips` together between each pair of adjacent articles to be secured, including an anvil adjacent a bight of said conveyor and of less width than the space between the iingers on said links, the surface of said anvil intersecting the path of movement of the articles delivered by said conveyor, said strip guiding means being adapted to guide said strips across said anvil and about the articles delivered from said conveyor, and a sezuring head and means for moving it toward and away from said anvil and against said strips.

18. In combination, in a machine for securing articles together in packages including supporting strips extending about and connected together between the articles, a generally cylindrical anvil mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, means for delivering a strip of material to said anvil for movement with and about the same, means for delivering above said strip on said anvil, in spaced succession, a plurality of articles ci substantially greater length than the width of the strip, means for delivering above said articles and above the anvil a second securing strip overlying the rst, and means for securing said strips together between each adjacent pair of articles to be secured including a sealing head and means for moving said sealing head toward and away from said anvil and against said sealing strips.

19. In combination, in a machine for securing articles together in packages including supporting strips extending about and connected tcgether between the articles, a generally cylindrical anvil mounted forrotation about a horizontal axis, means for delivering a strip of material to said anvil for movement with and about the same, means for delivering above said strip on said anvil, in spaced sucession, a plurality of articles of substantially greater length than the width of the strip, means for delivering above said articles and above the anvil a second securing strip overlying the first, and means for securing said strips together between each adjacent pair of articles to be secured including a sealing head and means for moving said sealing head toward and away from said anvil and against said sealing strips, and means for holding the adjacent articles to be secured out of line with the path of movement of said sealing head.

20. In combination, in means for packaging articles by securing them between strips, a rotary anvil, means for passing a pair of strips toward and across said anvil along converging paths,

18 means for delivering the articles to be secured to the space between said converging strips, means for securing the stripsltogether about said arfticles, including a securing head and means for moving said securing head, against `said strips, toward and away from said anvil, and means for keeping the articles to be secured out of the line of movement of said securing head.

21. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying banding material to a point in the machine at which portions of the material are adapted to be secured together about,.ea ch article in turn, means for feedinga plurality of ar-- ticles one at a time to said point, and banding mechanism -including means for' rst wrappingv a portion of the material about the article into overlying relation to another portion of themateria1 and then securing said portions together at said point, a portion of said banding mech anism engaging with the article to move the` lat-1 ter into properly placed relation with respect to the previously banded article prior to lsecuring said portions of banding material Vtcgethersaid last named means having a surface engageable with the article to feed the same, and means to advance said surface in a direction to feed the article.

22. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying banding material, a rotary platen across which portions ci the banding material are adapted to be positioned while being secured together, means for feeding each of the articles to be banded into a position adjacent the platen with portions of the banding material about the article and other portions of the banding material across the platen, and a reciprocating sealing head which is movable into engagement with the platen behind the article on the interposed portions of the banding material for securing such portions together.

23. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying banding material, a rotary platen across which portions of the banding material are adapted to be positioned while being secured together, means for feeding each of the articles to be banded into a position adjacent the platen with portions of the banding material about the article and other portions of the banding material across the platen, and a sealing head which is movable into engagement with the platen behind the article on the interposed portions of the banding material for securing such portions together, said sealing head and platen moving forwardly together in xed relation to one another while in engagement with each other during the securing operation.

24. In a machine for banding articles, means for supplying bandingl material, a platen across which portions of the banding material are adapted to be positioned while being secured together, means for feeding each of the articles to be banded into a position adjacent the platen with portions of the banding material about the article and other portions of the banding material across the platen, a support beyond the platen for receiving the articles after they have been banded, and a sealing head which is movable into engagement with the platen behind the article on the interposed portions of the banding material for securing such portions together,` said sealing head being movable into engagement with the platen along a path of movement which is in clined with respect to the surface of said support.

25. In a machine for banding, articles, means 19 for feeding a plurality of the articles, means' for supplying banding material, a platen across which portions of the bandingfmaterial are adapted; to be positioned While being secured together, a sealing head which is movable into engagement with the platen behind one of the articles on the interposed portions of the banding material for securing such portions together, and means engageable with the article for holding the same in proper position While the portions of the material are being secured together.

26. In a machine for banding articles, means for feeding a plurality of the articles, means for supplying banding material, a platen across which portions of the banding material are adapted tov be positioned while being secured together, a sealing head Which is movable into engagement with the platen behind one of the articles on the interposed portions of the bandin'g material for securing such portions together, means engageable with the article for holding the sam'e in proper position while the portions of the 20 material are being secured together, and a supi port beyond the platen for receiving the articles after they have been banded.

EDWARD C. SLOAN. WILTON F. HOAG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are, of record in 'the 0 le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,418,054. March 25, 1947.

EDWARD C. SLOAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification lof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 10, lines 58 and 59, strike out the Words and the heating member 102 and insert the same after the comma and before has in line 60, same column; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oloe.

Signed and sealedthis 21st day of October, A. D. 1947.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

